COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Families of transgender children are unsure of how to best care for their children as a result of Ohio’s decision to outlaw gender-affirming childcare and restrict the participation of transgender women and girls on sports teams.
The Senate, which is dominated by Republicans, voted on Wednesday to override GOP Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto. The new legislation restricts mental health care for transgender people under 18 and outlaws gender-affirming procedures and hormone treatment. Additionally, the law prohibits transgender women and girls from participating in undergraduate and K–12 sports teams.
The legislation is anticipated to go into effect in about 90 days. Early this month, the Republican-majority House voted to override the veto.
The Chagrin Falls actor is devastated but not surprised by the new law because two of Kat Scaglione’s three children are transgender. According to the governor’s grandfather clause, her 14-year-old child Amity is now receiving mental health services and some medication. However, she would be unable to continue receiving treatment, such as hormone therapies, and would have to travel outside of the state to advance in her gender-affirming care.
Scaglione and her companion Matt are even thinking about moving their family out of the state entirely, despite just purchasing a home in an area with safer schools and neighborhoods for Amity and Lexi, her 10-year-old sister who is also transgender. They don’t feel at home in Ohio, and they can see no signs of that changing any time soon.
“Yet though we’ve settled in and are enjoying ourselves right now,” Scaglione said, “We’re continually looking over our head and waiting for something to change to the point where we have to leave today.” “It’s been difficult to move there and try to make it home when you continually feel like you might have to run away.”
To the dismay of his party, DeWine reiterated his veto of the policy intended to shield parents and children from meddling by the authorities regarding medical decisions. However, on January 1st, he signed an executive order forbidding gender-affirming procedures for those under 18, despite the fact that medical professionals claim that such procedures aren’t taking place in the state.
Democrats and LGBTQ+ activists who were once enthusiastic about his veto have harshly criticized him for proposing operational rules that apply to adults as well as transgender children.
On the Senate floor, Republican Sen. Kristina Roegner from Summit County falsely claimed that there is no such thing as gender-affirming care or gender range and referred to it as a “fool’s task.”
LGBTQ+ activists who were closely monitored by Statehouse surveillance booed and yelled in protest at her comments.
One activist was led out of the Senate chamber while singing that Jesus loves transgender kids.
Numerous states that have passed legislation restricting or outlawing gender-affirming health care for transgender minors are currently the subject of claims. Authorities have made conflicting decisions. A federal judge in Arkansas overturned the nation’s earliest rules after ruling that the ban on treatment violated the rights of transgender children and their families to due process.
Major health organizations have endorsed the treatment, which has been offered in the US for more than ten years.
A request from the Biden administration to stop such outright restrictions is expected to be finalized this year after numerous delays and significant opposition. At least 20 states have approved a type of allowing transgender athletes to play on K–12 and collegiate sports teams overall. According to the proposed law, blanket bans would be against Title IX, the historic gender-equality legislation passed in 1972.
Democratic senator from the Cleveland area, Senate Minority Leader Nickie J. Antonio, referred to the measure as “bullying” and said that the government should be addressing more serious problems like mental health and substance use disorders rather than those that isolate trans children and restrict parental rights. She claimed that although the activists are worn out, they are still capable of fighting again.
Antonio, a member of the LGBTQ+ community herself, said, “I hope this is the last moment this legislative program that we’re working to take away people’s right from the LGBTQ society.”
In order to protect trans people and their families, Maria Bruno, people policy director for Equality Ohio, a provincial LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, stated that they will be looking into whatever legal and legislative options are available to them.
She remarked, “It is truly shameful to see partisan politics trumping the scientific, just, and sympathetic result.”
The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative employs Samantha Hendrickson as a regiment member. A nonprofit national service program called Report for America places journalists in local newspapers to cover unreported news stories.
